Payangan Bali, Indonesia
Renovated
2022
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe LocalOutside the door
The house
Banyan TreeWall-free jungle redoubt
Stone pathways wind through dense rainforest to open-sided pavilions, where valley breezes and the rushing Ayung River replace walls.
“These high-eaved wooden buildings really don’t have any walls: bamboo shades and hazy drapes provide privacy (and rain protection).”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
Doorless, wall-free bales built from salvaged boat ironwood open onto panoramic jungle vistas and copper bathtubs.
Exceptional
Dedicated escape hosts deliver attentive care, evening linen curtain turndown, and custom botanical amenities across sixteen private bales.
Remarkable
Stays incorporate sacred Ayung River waterfall blessings, traditional Balinese loloh tonics, and zero-waste cooking using highland farm harvests.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
UK Gold List
Condé Nast Traveler
2026
Also in The 50 Discovery and AFAR.
its 16 villas are so private they don’t need doors, or even walls, as they open onto nothing but unspoiled forest and distant mountains and fields.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set in the interior highlands near Payangan, terraced rice paddies and deep jungle canopy sit forty minutes north of busy Ubud.
The rooms
Open-air bales feature hand-hammered copper soaking tubs and private infinity plunge pools, with draped linen curtains framing mist-shrouded mountain peaks.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A central infinity pool cantilevers into the valley, flanked by timber decking and red-fringed sun parasols.
The spa
Open-air bamboo pavilions perch above the river ravine, where treatments include traditional pijat massages and candlenut scrubs.
Restaurant
The Open Kitchen
Chef Eka Sunarya serves zero-waste Balinese dishes, cooking seasonal harvests sourced from within a one-hour radius.
Spacious, high-beamed villas with an open plan design feature a traditional hand-carved bed at the centre, with its own air-con system fitted above.
At the table
The Botanist Bar pours local arak cocktails and house-fermented kombuchas from an open-air deck facing the canopy.
How it began
Balinese architect Gede Kresna spent months studying the ravine landscape to craft a low-impact retreat built from salvaged Kalimantan boat ironwood.
“The resort’s biophilic design, which includes meandering pathways fashioned out of local stone, harmonizes with the green setting, whose hues shift with the changing light.”
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Good to know
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Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.